Leather-working machine.



F. WAYLAND. LEATHER WORKING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1911. 1,090,895. Patented Mar. 24, 1914 J a m- FRANK WAYLAND, OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

LEATHER-WORKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Iatcnt.

Patented Mar. 24:, 1914.

Application filed July 8, 1911. Serial No. 637,397.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK \Varnann, a. citizen of the United States, and resident of Salem, in the county of Essex and State 01 Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Imprm'ements in Leather-\Vorking Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to leather working machines for putting out, staking and ironing skins and eather, and consists chiefly in certain improvements upon and modiications of the leather working machine described in Letters Patent ofthe United States No. 975,628, dated Nov. 15, 1910.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, Figure l is a perspective view of a machine containing the invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine viewed from the left of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view showing the arrangement of the rolls; and Fig. 4 is a detail of a yielding driving connection hereinafter to be described.

Referrin to the drawings, A represents a frame, which is preferab y of cast metal, for carrying the working parts of the machine. Extending from end to end of the frame are four rolls, two of which may be designated as the work rolls and two as the feed rolls. The two work rolls are shown at B and l), and the feed rolls at E and F. The work roll B is )rovided with a number of right and left handed helical rooves or channels 1), meeting near the mi die of the roll. In the bottom of each channel I) is a cushion 1) formed of a strip of rubber, felt, or other suitable resilient material protected by a resilient covering b in the term of a strip of metal such as steel or brass (Fig. 3). The work roll D is revided with right and left handed he ical blades cl, corresponding with the helical rooves I) and workin therein.

The roll D is mounted on and journaled at its ends in the frame A. The roll E is also mounted on the frame A, and its ends are journaled in blocks a which slide in slots a, and are pressed downward by springs a. The work roil B and feed roll 1' are mounted on and journalcd in swingin arms O which are pivoted to the ends 0 frame A at 0.

When in operative )osition the relation between the rolls is as leest shown in Fig. 3 that is, the sides of the blades (1 of roll D and the sides of their respective channels I) press toward each other with the skin K therebetaveen, and the rotected cushions b in the bottoms of suit channels also press toward the ends or edges of said blades with the skin K thcrebetween. The roll E presses the skin against the smooth surfaces of the roll B between the grooves; and the rolls E and F press one toward the other to pinch the skin K and act thereon as feed rolls to draw the skin upward out of the machine. On the shaft carrying rolls B and D res eetively are the drivin gears g and g. T iese gears are connected by in termediate ears 9" and g, the gear 9 being journa ed on arm C and meshing with gear g, and the gear g being journa ed at the nvot of two links Z and l, the former holding gear a in mesh with gear 9, and the latter holdin gears g and g in mesh. It will be seen tiat in all positions of arm C and roll B, the four gears g, g, g and 9 will remain in train. and will cause the rolls B and D to rotate in opposite directions as indicated by arrows in Fig. 3 whether said rolls are pressed together or not.

As already stated, when the rolls are in normal and operative position as shown in Fig. 8, the bladed roll D and the grooved roll B are 0 adjusted that the blades cl press toward the sides of the grooves b on the lower side, or forward side, considered in relation to the direction of rotation of the rollers. When the arms C are thrown backward to separate the rolls F and B respectively from the rolls E and D as shown in dotted lines in Fi 2, the straightening out of the links Z tlllt Z and the changed relative positions of the four ears will cause the blades (5 to move upwartv ly a short distance in the direction of the dotted line arrow in Fig. 8 to the :position shown in dotted lines at cl in Fig. thus retracting the blades (l from the sides of the channels with which they coo crate. Similarly, when the roll B is forcet closer against the roll I), the relative movement of the gears will tend to make the blades (Z move in the opposite direction and therefore press more tightly toward the sides of the channels. Two objects are achieved by this action. First, it is possible by pressing the arms C, and consequently the rolls B, toward the roll D, to vary the pressure upon the skin which is being acted upon by' the rolls; and second, the blades d and the grooves 72 will automatically come into cooperative relation without any tendency to strike the outer surface of the roll B or to have a shearing effect on the skin as the blades enter the grooves.

In order to be able to vary the pressure between the sides of the blades and the sides of the grooves for varying conditions of work and varying kinds of qualities of skins, a lever m is pivoted to each end of the frame A and adapted when the operator presses down the rod n. to swing the lower ends of the arms O to the right as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, thereby pressing the blades d more tightly toward the sides of the channels 6. Thus, the force exerted by the working rolls upon the material being treated ma be varied at the will of the operator.

t one end of the grooved roll B is a pul ley p which, by any suitable form of belting, drives the roll B and also the roll D through the above described train of gears. The roll F is an idler roll. The roll E is provided with a pulley or sprocket wheel 9 which is connected by a belt or chain 1- with a sprocket or pulley s mounted on a suitable driving shaft. The roll E is covered with a layer of felt e or other suitable cushioning material. The arms C and the rolls carried thereby may be swung away from the rolls E and D by anysuitable mechanism such for example as that commonly used in fleshing machines for separating rollers. It willtherefore not be necessary to describe in particular the mechanism for swinging the arms C away from the rolls D and E.

In order that a yieldin pressure may be maintained between the lades d and the sides of the grooves 12 and in order to allow for any inequalities or variations in thickness in the skins being treated, a yielding connection is provided between the driving gear 9' and the roll D which is shown in detail in Fig. 4. This device consists of 'a disk H which is screwed to the gear g'and is provided with a recessdn one side it, said disk and gear 9 are loose on shaft d of the roll D. Keyed fast to shaft d are the oppositely extending leversd lo'dged within the recess h. Springs 8 press against the levers d and the walls of the recess-h being held in place by bolts h and similar bolts h extending through the opposite walls of the recess h limit the play of the levers d in that direction, The springs a normally press the blades 12 yieldingly toward the sides of the grooves b. If required by-any variation in thickness of the skin a slight relative movement is permitted between the blades d and the grooves k by the yielding of the springs s'notwithstanding the continued and constant rotation of the gear 9'. Thus the pressure or pinch exerted on the skin between the sides of the blades and the sides of the yielding pressure between the sides of the blades and the sides of the grooves takes place at all positions of the blades when in operative position within the grooves.

The roll B is preferably made hollow and is provided with an inlet pipe at one end and an outlet pipe at the other end for the admision and discharge of steam from any suitable source of supply. Thus the roll B may be heated which is essential when the machine is being used for an ironing machine and is sometimes desirable when it is used for a staking machine. Such a steam pipe is illustrated at t.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The rolls are opened by throwing the arm Cto the dotted line position. of Fig. 2. It will be understood that the rolls are rotating in the directions indicated by the arrows. The skin is then thrown between the rolls and the rolls closed together to the operative position with the skin held between them in the position shown at K in Fig. 3. The feed rolls E and F are pinched together sufiiciently tightly to draw the skin upward and outward. The lower part of the skin is acted upon by the heli- "cally bladed and grooved rolls B and D.

These work rolls stretch the skin lengthwise and-also sidewise. The cushions b in the grooves b yield in response to variations m thickness of the skin as do the blades (1 and the sides of the groove 1). When one half of the skin has been sufficiently acted upon by the work rolls, the

rolls are again thrown open and the skin' turned about and the other half subjected to the same treatment. It will be observed that as the feed roll E presses against the smooth surface between the grooves of the roll B the skin is ironed as it is pulled upward by the feed rolls.

The helical grooves tend to straighten out and stretch the leather during the ironing process, and the edges of the grooves work into the grain of the leather and smooth out the roughness of the grain.-

The blades (Z are preferably made sufficiently wide and thin, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, to be somewhat resilient, so as to yield slightly to irregularities in a skin passing between the blades and the coacting helical surfaces on roll B.

Thus it will be seen that this machine will perform the functions of putting out,

ooves is automatically and. yieldingly maintained; and this automatic staking, and ironing, the first process being preferably done with a cold roll B, the staking being done with either a hot or cold roll and the ironing being done with a hot roll. It will also be noted t mat the staking process is repented during the ironing process and holds the skin out flat and extended while the ironing process is going on.

This machine possesses marked advantages over existing machines in that it wholly avoids wrinkling, tearing or marring of the skins and in that the putting out is done on both sides of the skins, whereas in other putting out machines the putting out process is performed on one side of the skin; and this machine produces a better product than heretofore and a larger area in the manufactured leather for a given skin than has heretofore been possible to attain.

I claim:

1. In a leather working machine, a pair of rolls, one having helical blades, and the other having corresponding helical channels into which said blades project, and means automatically to cause the sides of said blades and the sides of said channels yieldingly to press one toward the other.

2. In a leather working machine, a pair of rolls, one having helical blades, and the other having corresponding helical channels into which said blades project, and means automatically to cause the sides of said blades and the sides of said channels yieldingly to press one toward the other irrespective of the position-of the blades within the grooves.

3. In a leather working machine, a pair of rolls, one having helical blades, and the other having corres vending helical channels into which said blades roject, and cushioms in the bottom of said ciannels protected by a flexible covering of metal.

4. In a leather working machine, a. pair of rolls, one having helical blades and the other having corresponding helical channels into which said blades project, and a pair of feed rolls, one of said feed rolls pressing toward the smooth surface of said channeled roll and constituting there with an ironing mechanism.

in a leather working machine, a pair of work rolls having coiipcrating helices, the helices of one roll overlapping the helices of the other roll when the rolls are in working position, one of said rolls bein mounted on the machine frame, a movabl e support carrying the other roll adapted to move the latter roll bodily out of working position and wholly away from the other roll to provide a clear open space between said rolls and their helices for the insertion of a skin therebetween, and mechanism to operate said movable support to on and close said work rolls, said work rol B being connected by a train of gears adapted to cause said rolls to rotate in opposite directions and to remain in train in all positions of said working rolls.

(3. In a leather working machine, a pair of work rolls having 006 )erating helices. the helices of one roll overlapping the helices of the other roll when the rolls are in working position, means to press the sides of the helices of one of said rolls toward the opposed sides of the helices of the other of said rolls, and means to vary such side pressure between said helices.

7. In a leather working machine, a pair of work rolls having eotiperating helices, the helices of one roll overlappin the helices of the other roll when the 1'01 5 are in working position, one of said rolls being movable bodily out of working position and wholly away from the other roll to provide a. clear open space between said rolls for the insertion of a skin, and means automatically to cause said helices to come into operative position when the rolls are again brought together.

8. In a leather working machine, a smooth surface ironing roll having right and left handed helical grooves, means to heat said ironing roll and a. pressure roll pressing toward said ironing roll.

9. In a leather working machine, a pair of rolls, one having helical blades, and the other having corresponding helical channels into which said blades project, gears in train adapted to cause said rolls to rotate in opposite dircctions, the ear on one of said rolls being loose on its siaft and provided with a fitting having a recess therein adjacent to the shaft, an arm fast to the shaft and movable within said reccss to permit limited relative rotation between said gear and shaft, and a spring cooperating with said arm and said fitting to urge said helical blades toward the sides of said channels.

10. In a leather working machine, a pair of rolls, one having helical blades and the other having corresponding helical channels into which said blades project, said rolls being movable away from and toward each other, a train of gears connecting said rolls to cause the rolls to rotate in opposite directions and to remain in mesh in all positions of said rolls, said gears being adapted during the movement of said rolls away from each other to cause said blades to swing away from the channel side normally engaged thereby, and during the movement of said rolls toward each other to cause said blades to swin toward the channel side normally engage thereby.

11. In a leather working machine, a pair of rolls having thereon enacting helices, between which the skin passes, and means antomatically to cause the opposed sides of said helices yieldingly to press one toward the other.

, 12. In a leather working machine, a pair of rolls having thereon coacting helices between which the skin passes, thesides of the helices of one roll arranged to press sidewise toward the sides of the blades of the other roll, one at least of said helices being resilient and adapted to yield with relation to the other. 10 Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this sixth day of July 1911.

I FRANK WAYLAND.

Witnesses:

CHARLES D. WOODBERRY, ROBERT CUsHMAN. 

